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Los Angeles vs Santa Monica Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Los Angeles crime rate · Santa Monica crime rate

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Is Los Angeles or Santa Monica Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than Santa Monica (Safety Score 35/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 5,573 for Santa Monica — 60% lower. Los Angeles has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in property crime, where Los Angeles has a 69% lower rate.

Note: Los Angeles is 42.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Los Angeles, CA?

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Santa Monica — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 3,796,352
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5
Category Wins 5/7

Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica, CA
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 88,948
Total Crime Rate 5,572.9
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Angeles Santa Monica Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5 5,572.9 -3,360.5
Violent Crime Rate 728.5 782.5 -53.9
Murder Rate 7.0 4.5 +2.5
Rape Rate 40.3 72.0 -31.7
Robbery Rate 209.9 202.4 +7.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 471.4 499.2 -27.8
Property Crime Rate 1,483.9 4,790.4 -3,306.5
Burglary Rate 372.8 848.8 -476.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 851.5 3,382.9 -2,531.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 259.6 558.8 -299.1

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Monica, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles or Santa Monica safer?

Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 5,573 for Santa Monica — a 60% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Santa Monica has 782.5. Los Angeles has lower violent crime.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica, a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, is known for its iconic pier and vibrant tourism. Its beaches and Pacific Ocean proximity draw a diverse population, including many young professionals and families. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 88,948, Santa Monica has a total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 residents.

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